Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik
The harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavi...
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Canadian Science Publishing
2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2022-0039 https://doaj.org/article/b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 2023-10-01T03:52:30+02:00 Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2022-0039 https://doaj.org/article/b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 EN FR eng fre Canadian Science Publishing https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2022-0039 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2022-0039 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 Arctic Science, Vol 9, Iss 3, Pp 616-634 (2023) beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2022-0039 2023-09-03T00:48:51Z The harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. The presence of environmental contaminants and nutrients in beluga has been the subject of recent research interest, including the role of selenoneine and its interactions with methylmercury. Using interviews conducted in Quaqtaq and analyses of beluga tissue samples harvested by hunters, this study aimed to bridge Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to understand how beluga hunting, preparation, and consumption practices may explain the different levels of selenoneine found in Nunavimmiut (Inuit from Nunavik). It also sought to characterize the health, social, and cultural importance of beluga and factors influencing its consumption. Research findings confirmed the important role of beluga in Nunavimmiut culture, food security, and nutrition. Findings documented gender-based consumption practices, including consumption of the selenoneine-rich beluga tail exclusively by women, which may explain previously documented gender differences in blood selenoneine levels. This study demonstrates the utility of weaving Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to inform future environmental health research, public health communications, and wildlife comanagement. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit Nunavik Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Canada Nunavik Quaqtaq ENVELOPE(-69.615,-69.615,61.034,61.034) Arctic Science |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
spellingShingle |
beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
topic_facet |
beluga whale Nunavik Inuit traditional knowledge selenoneine food security Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
description |
The harvest and consumption of country food is a cornerstone of Inuit culture, sovereignty, food security, and nutrition. Qilalugaq (beluga whales) (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) are hunted across the Canadian Arctic and are an especially important food source for Inuit communities in Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. The presence of environmental contaminants and nutrients in beluga has been the subject of recent research interest, including the role of selenoneine and its interactions with methylmercury. Using interviews conducted in Quaqtaq and analyses of beluga tissue samples harvested by hunters, this study aimed to bridge Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to understand how beluga hunting, preparation, and consumption practices may explain the different levels of selenoneine found in Nunavimmiut (Inuit from Nunavik). It also sought to characterize the health, social, and cultural importance of beluga and factors influencing its consumption. Research findings confirmed the important role of beluga in Nunavimmiut culture, food security, and nutrition. Findings documented gender-based consumption practices, including consumption of the selenoneine-rich beluga tail exclusively by women, which may explain previously documented gender differences in blood selenoneine levels. This study demonstrates the utility of weaving Inuit knowledge and scientific knowledge to inform future environmental health research, public health communications, and wildlife comanagement. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire |
author_facet |
Matthew Little Nicole Winters Adel Achouba Adriano Magesky Pierre Ayotte Tommy Palliser Angus Naylor Willie Jararuse Mélanie Lemire |
author_sort |
Matthew Little |
title |
Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
title_short |
Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
title_full |
Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
title_fullStr |
Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
title_full_unstemmed |
Weaving together Inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in Quaqtaq, Nunavik |
title_sort |
weaving together inuit knowledge and western science: a mixed-methods case study of qilalugaq (beluga whale) in quaqtaq, nunavik |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2022-0039 https://doaj.org/article/b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-69.615,-69.615,61.034,61.034) |
geographic |
Arctic Canada Nunavik Quaqtaq |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada Nunavik Quaqtaq |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit Nunavik |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas inuit Nunavik |
op_source |
Arctic Science, Vol 9, Iss 3, Pp 616-634 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2022-0039 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2022-0039 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/b55b30470a8c4b37adb1720ca6b3d974 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2022-0039 |
container_title |
Arctic Science |
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1778518655501336576 |